Mahir Shahriar Reza, President of a faction of the Bangladesh Student Union, has described the Hefazat-e-Islam movement at Shapla Square in Dhaka on 5 May 2013 as nothing short of the “footsteps of fascism.”
His remark, made recently at TSC’s Pigeon Square on the University of Dhaka campus, came in response to a journalist’s question. A video of the interaction has since gone viral on social media platforms.
In the video, Mahir Shahriar Reza responds emphatically:
“The Shahbagh Movement was a protest demanding justice for war criminals. That was the core demand, and to some extent, justice has been served. Those who now claim that fascism originated from that movement should be asked—who exactly echoed the footsteps of fascism by launching a violent offensive at Shapla Square, wreaking havoc across Dhaka on 5 May, and reaping state privileges in its aftermath?”
When directly asked whether the events of Shapla Square could be labelled as an expression of fascism, he responded firmly: “Absolutely.”
Events and Reactions
| Event | Date | Description | Mahir Shahriar Reza’s Position |
| Shahbagh Movement | 2013 | Mass protests demanding trials for war criminals | A legitimate and justice-driven movement |
| Shapla Square Incident | 5 May 2013 | Hefazat-e-Islam’s demonstration and violent unrest in Dhaka | “Clear sign of fascism’s emergence” |
| Accusations against Shahbagh | Ongoing | Some allege the Shahbagh Movement led to fascism | Denied, countered by pointing to Hefazat’s actions |
The comments come at a time when the political interpretations of both movements—Shahbagh and Shapla Square—continue to stir polarised narratives in Bangladesh’s political discourse. Reza’s remarks have reignited debate over who truly represents authoritarian impulses cloaked in religious or nationalist rhetoric.
